How do I go from 802.11 to an ethernet hub?

I currently have the following home networking setup where I use a MacBook Pro laptop and a Win7 desktop. Using Remote Desktop software is too slow over wi-fi. Is there a way to connect the two computers with some ethernet bridge but at the same time connect the bridge to my wi-fi 802.11N network?

If you could point me to a specific product on Amazon, that would be a really helpful point of reference.

You have a couple options I can think of. Sounds like the MBP and PC are going to be physically close to one another, close enough to be wired together.

1. Cheapest: Get an ethernet cross-over cable. Wire the PC and MBP directly together. With no configuration, they might just work. But otherwise, you can hardcode an IP address on both machines. You connect from the MBP to the PC using the IP address of the wired connection. This leaves the wireless network configuration of both machines alone. You continue to access the Internet over wireless. Downside: A little tricky to configure if you aren't a networking expert.

2. Next cheapest: Get an ethernet hub and plug the MBP and PC into the ethernet hub. Really isn't any different than option 1 except you can plug more things in on the wired side.

3. Get a 802.11n access point and a hub. Plug the AP and computers into the hub. Configure the AP to join the 802.11 network in "bridge" mode. Just about any AP should be able to do that. Possibly a little cheaper than option 4.

4. Get a 802.11n router with a built-in hub. An example of this would be the AirPort Extreme. 802.11n wireless plus USB port (to serve disks or printers) plus 3-port ethernet hub all-in-one. Plug the computers into the ports not marked "WAN". Leave the WAN port unused. Again, you'd configure the APE in bridge mode. This is the "easiest" because it's just one box that does everything you want. Other vendors have similar boxes as well.

For options 3 and 4 you'd turn off wireless on the PC and MBP altogether and only use the wired link.

I would add a powerline adaptor (if you cannot cable from down to upstairs) & then add a switch to add tour devices to. Works very well & I have a similar solution to enable my garage refurb to join my home network.

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